Convertible type carrier

ABSTRACT

Various well-known printing calculators are provided with type carriers having a plurality of rigidly attached type characters of predetermined value or significance, such type carriers being differentially positionable to bring selected type into printing position, and either movingly or arrestingly activatable to effectuate printing on a paper tape or record medium. A type carrier suitable for use in such printing calculators is provided with a shank portion and an attachable and detachable head portion having a particular combination of type characters integral therewith. By this means type characters corresponding to changed requirements may be installed conveniently in the various printing orders without removing the carriers from the printing means.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Kenneth George Gray McGregor Bonhill,Alexandria, Scotland [21] Appl. No. 710,500 [22] Filed Mar. 5, 1968 [45]Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [73] Assignee Burroughs Corporation Detroit,Mich. [32] Priority June 27, 1967 [33] Great Britain [31] 29649/67 [S4]CONVERTIBLE TYPE CARRIER 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 197/36, 101/109 [51] Int. Cl. B4lj 1/02 [50] Field ofSearch101/368; 197/36;101/109, 29, 84

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,508,593 5/1950 Braunl01/109X 2,746,385 5/1956 Mul1er.... 101/109 2,978,978 4/1961 Lang101/109 2,995,082 8/1961 Sasaki 101/109 3,007,400 11/1961 Lego 101/1091,040,042 10/1912 Smith 197/36 1,206,972 12/1916 Anderson.... 197/362,098,780 11/1937 Helmond..... 197/36 2,216,627 10/1940 Pitman 197/362,862,592 12/1958 Redmond 197/36 3,101,141 8/1963 Canny 197/36 FOREIGNPATENTS 9,671 4/1904 Great Britain 197/36 955,111 l/1950 France 197/36Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Attorneys- Kenneth L. Miller and Frank H.Cullen ABSTRACT: Various welLknown printing calculators are providedwith type carriers having a plurality of rigidly at- PATENIEU mun 5 ranZ 6 w m v m w 4 3 m 4 .o

INVENTOR. KENNETH GEORGE GRAY M GREGOR.

AGENT.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Calculating machines of the printing varietygenerally provide type carriers representing the various denominationalorders of a numerical printout. Each of these carriers comprises aplurality of character type representing the digit values that areencompassed in the measurement system for which the machine wasdesigned, and frequently representing also the various itemidentifications that were required at the time the machine was acquired,in keeping with the nature of the work that was at that timecontemplated.

As the scope or nature of a business changes, its calculating orrecordation needs also occasionally change, in some instances requiringa change in the type fonts, digit values, or item identifications thatwere initially contemplated. Such changes have heretofore been expensiveto accomplish since they generally require the services of a skilledrepairman, if not the attention of a factory trained representative ofthe manufacturer. This expense is commonly further aggravated by longperiods of delay during which the machine is rendered inoperative whileobsolete type carriers are removed and new carriers installed.

Characteristic of such changes in requirements are those necessitated bythe forthcoming decimalization program in Great Britain. Whereasprintingcalculators in Great Britain have been required to print from 1 to 11pence in the lowest denominational order in the sterling system ofnotation, the new decimalized currency will require recordation of ahalfpenny only (otherwise known as new halfpence) in the lowest order.To accommodate this along with other related requirements, businessmachine manufactures have been engaged in development programs designedto incorporate in a single calculating or accounting machine mechanismswhich are capable of accumulating and printing amounts measured ineither old sterling or new decimalized currency. The convertibility ofthis new equipment, as between the two currencies, with a minimalinvolvement of skilled'r'epresentatives, is naturally receivingemphasis.

One embodiment of the present invention accordingly provides for theready conversion of the pence type carrier by the operator, sothatcharacter type ranging in value from to l 1 can be replaced with ahalfpenny (or new halfpence) character type. As an example of how thisembodiment of the present invention may be utilized in the forthcomingdecimalization program in Great Britain, a head member comprisingcharacter type ranging from O to 11 may be utilized in conjunction witha shank member to which the head member is slideably attached, forposting in the sterling system of notation before the new decimalizedcurrency is introduced, the head member then being slideably removedfrom the shank member by the operator when the need for posting in thedecimal system of notation first arises. A substitute head membercomprising only a halfpenny (new halfpence) character type in the sixthposition may then be installed bythe operator preparatory to posting innew decimal currency. By means of this embodiment therefore, inconjunction with a l2-pitch one point accumulator wheel in the lowestaccumulating order, and in conjunction also with suitable keyboardblocking means effective in decimal mode to permit the depression of thesix key in the pence column only, convertibility as between sterling anddecimal notation, relative to the accumulation and printing of eitherpence amounts or a halfpenny, could be realized without the specializedattention of a skilled representative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists of a two-parttype carrier which is usable as a conventional type carrier andadaptable to the changing requirements of recordation. This two-parttype carrier comprises an elongated member which cooperates with theprinting mechanism of the machine, and which serves as a carrier for areplaceable head member, the latter member comprising the character typethat are required in the conduct of a business. As the printingrequirements of the business change, the replaceable head member may beremoved conveniently by the operator and a new head member comprisingcharacter type corresponding to the new requirements substitutedtherefor. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The various aspects of the presentinvention will be more clearly understood from the following descriptionwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an assembled two-part typecarrier;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a shank member of the two-part type carrier;

FIG. 2A is a side view of a head member of the two-part type carrier;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a head member comprising character typeranging from 0 to 1 l;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a head member comprising a halfpenny (newhalfpence) character type intermediate its length;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A two-part type carrier comprisesa shank member 21 and a head member 23. In one embodiment of theinvention, the upper half 21' of the shank member 21 has a trapezoidalcross section and the head member 23 comprises a longitudinally disposedtrapezoidal groove 23' which is slideably engageable with thetrapezoidal portion 21' of the shank member 21. The head member 23 alsocomprises a handling projection 25, an aperture 27, and a plurality ofcharacter type 45 rigidly disposed along an impacting side thereof. Thehead member 23, comprising rigidly affixed character type 45, iseffective to print digit values on any suitable record from by means ofa forced impact of the head member 23 against an interposed ribbon and aform-bearing platen, the indexed one of the character type having beenraised into alignment with the platen by conventional indexing means andmachine cycling.

- The'shank'member 21' also comprises a biased plunger member 33 securedto theshank member 21' by a screw 32, at a point proximate its upperextremity, as best shown in FIG. 5.

31, a shoulder portion 37, and a stud portion-35 which is normally urgedinto engage, relationship with the aperture 27 .of

- an assembled head member 23 through a shank member aperture 34.

To accommodate the above-described currency conversion program in GreatBritain, as an example, a head member 41 comprises character typeranging in value from 0 to ll which may be used in the lowestdenominational order of the printing section ofa printing calculatorwhen the sterling system of notation is being employed, and a headmember 43 comprises a halfpenny (new halfpence) character located in aposition corresponding to the six position of the head member 41, andmay be substituted for the head member 41 when the decimal system ofnotation is adopted. Selective use of either head member 41 or 43, inconjunction witha l2-pitch one point accumulator wheel and suitablekeyboard blocking means permitting depression of the six key only in thepence column of the keyboard when in decimal mode, will serve to.provide ready convertibility as between the sterling and decimal systemsof notation relative to the accumulation and printing of either pence orhalfpennies (new halfpence).

Other removable head members similar to members 23, 41 and 43 couldcomprise any desired combination of character type in order to render aprinting calculator readily adaptable to the changing requirements.

Other means for slideably assembling the head member 23 to the shankmember 21, aside from the use of a trapezoidal shank and groove, couldbe employed by one skilled in the art within the scope and intent of thepresent invention.

To replace a given head member 23 with a member comprising differentcharacter type, the operator may simply force the extension 31 of thebiased plunger member 33 away from the shank member 21 and slide thehead member 23 upwardly and out of engagement with the shank member bymeans of the projection 25. The head member to be substituted thereformay then be slideably lowered onto the shank member 21, until the biasedplunger member 33 engages the aperture 27 of the replacement head member23.

I claim 1. A two-part type carrier for use in a printing mechanism, saidtype carrier including an elongated shank member having a trapezoidalformed portion and including also a selected type-carrying head memberhaving a trapezoidal groove formed on one side thereof, said groove ofsaid selected head member and said formed portion of said shank memberbeing slidably coope'rable to provide coupling and decoupling meanstherebetween whereby said type carrier is rendered readily adaptable tovarious and varying printing needs, said two-part type carrier beingcharacterized by:

a. a projection disposed on an edge of said head member opposite theedge carrying the type characters thereof. b. an aperture disposed insaid head member at a point proximate one extremity of said trapezoidalgroove, c. an aperture disposed in said shank member in correspondingrelationship with said aperture of said selected head member such thatsaid apertures bear an aligned and axially disposed relationship whensaid selected head member and said shank member are slidably and fullycoupled, and

d. a resilient plunger member connected to said shank member, saidplunger member having an upright extension, a shoulder portion, and astud portion, the resiliency of said plunger member being normallyeffective to hold said shoulder portion in contacting relationship withthe adjacent side surface of said shank member and to hold said studportionfully engaged with said aperture of said shank member, said studportion extending through said shank member aperture to retainablyengage said selected head member aperture when said head member and saidshank member are fully coupled.

2. The two-part type carrier defined in claim 1 wherein the decouplingof said selected head member from said shank member is effectuated bythe manual withdrawal of said stud portion of said resilient plungermember from said head member aperture and slidably removing saidselected head member from said shank member by means of said head memberprojection, said manual withdrawal of said stud por tion beingaccomplished by the sidewise activation of said upright extension ofsaid plunger member.

1. A two-part type carrier for use in a printing mechanism, said typecarrier including an elongated shank member having a trapezoidal formedportion and including also a selected typecarrying head member having atrapezoidal groove formed on one side thereof, said groove of saidselected head member and said formed portion of said shank member beingslidably cooperable to provide coupling and decoupling meanstherebetween whereby said type carrier is rendered readily adaptable tovarious and varying printing needs, said two-part type carrier beingcharacterized by: a. a projection disposed on an edge of said headmember opposite the edge carrying the type characters thereof. b. anaperture disposed in said head member at a point proximate one extremityof said trapezoidal groove, c. an aperture disposed in said shank memberin corresponding relationship with said aperture of said selected headmember such that said apertures bear an aligned and axially disposedrelationship when said selected head member and said shank member areslidably and fully coupled, and d. a resilient plunger member connectedto said shank member, said plunger member having an upright extension, ashoulder portion, and a stud portion, the resiliency of said plungermember being normally effective to hold said shoulder portion incontacting relationship with the adjacent side surface of said shankmember and to hold said stud portion fully engaged with said aperture ofsaid shank member, said stud portion extending through said shank memberaperture to retainably engage said selected head member aperture whensaid head member and said shank member are fully coupled.
 2. Thetwo-part type carrier defined in claim 1 wherein the decoupling of saidselected head member from said shank member is effectuated by the manualwithdrawal of said stud portion of said resilient plunger member fromsaid head Member aperture and slidably removing said selected headmember from said shank member by means of said head member projection,said manual withdrawal of said stud portion being accomplished by thesidewise activation of said upright extension of said plunger member.